Equality campaigners will launch an anti-homophobia campaign across Scottish football this weekend in a bid to make the sport more inclusive.

Adverts will be placed in every SPFL club programme on the opening weekend of the 2016/17 season, aiming to break down barriers and encourage diversity in the national sport on the terraces and the pitch.

The ad, a joint project between the Equality Network, the SFA and Ladbrokes, includes the text: “Plays for the other team. Supports yours.” and goes on to say “Scottish football welcomes its LGBTI fans.”

Scott Cuthbertson, Development Manager of the Equality Network said, “We want to send the message loud and clear that LGBTI fans, players and officials are welcome in Scottish football, and that we are working for a more inclusive game.

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“We don’t yet have any openly LGBTI professional players in the men’s professional game in Scotland but we know there are plenty of LGBTI fans, so we want to put out the welcome mat and encourage fans to help remove any barriers, so that footballing talent are able to come out in future.”

An SFA spokesman added: “The Scottish Football Association is committed to ensuring football is accessible to all and we support this initiative to welcome all supporters. We want to create an inclusive environment and ensure all are treated fairly and will be working with groups such as the Equality Network to support our work towards betterdiversity and inclusion.”

Campaigners are also hoping that clubs sign up to the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter, launched at Hampden last year. They’re also encouraging LGBT fans to sign up to encourage clubs to be more inclusive. Aberdeen FC are currently the only team in Scotland who have an affiliated supporters’ group for LGBT fans.

A study by the Equality Network launched in 2012 showed that 57% of LGBT people would be more likely to participate in sport if it was more LGBT friendly.